The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-14
GERMAN AND AMERICAN ACTORS.
Points of Difference Between Theatres
in This Country and Germany.

IN This country ana Germany.
New York, Nov. IA few days ago l
had long talk with Mr. Gustave Amberg,
manager of the Thalia Theatre, and therein
he explained to me the difference between
theatres III this country and all that pertains
to them and those of the German empire
The system of managing theatres in Ger
many is entirely different from that in this
country German audiences are mostly
regular subscribers and are known under
the title of Announcement. lnasmuch as they
see the same company nightly throughout
the season, they demand considerable
change in the programme. There are no
travelling companies in Germany, but each
company is connected with one theatre,
where it remains throughout the season.
This demands from the German actors a
versatility which is not at all required from
their American counterparts. A German
actor or actress frequently plays in tragedy
one night, comedy or farce the next, and
possibly light opera on the third night In
other words, a German actor or actress
must be an all-arouud performer. Possibly
that is the reason why few Germans actors
rise to the same degree of excellence in their
profession as English or American actors.
The necessity for appearing III so many and
entirely different parts prevents superiority
i'll any one.
ported by the government. The manager
gets the theatres from the government rent
free, and the government also pays a certain
amount for the boxes which it takes itself
The position of manager is therefore a semi:
official one He has to pass civil service
examination. He is practically assured of
a good thing if he gets the position, mas
much as the people will subscribe for a sea-
son before they have learned what they are
going to see. His trouble comes, however,
when he displeaSeS those who have given
him his opportunity. He has to deposit in
| advance, as security to his actors, their
salaries for four weeks. Sunday night is
the most profitable of all the week.
The appearance of the Crown Prince or
any other member Of the royal family at
| Berlin theatre has the same effect, Mr.
| Amberg says, as the appearance of Presi-
| dent Cleveland and Mrs Cleveland has in
| this country. The result is that the theatre
| Is packed with persons more DESTROYS of
| gazing upon the noble visitors than upon
the performers. If the manager does not
suit the Stadt-Rath, or Board Of Aldermen,
ola city, they remove him without explana-
| ton A law in Germany which it would
be well TO have in this country also, mas
much as it prevents overcrowding or ruin
/ Gus competition, is to the effect that there
| shall not be more than one theatre to q
certain number of the population. Mr.
| Amberg was not certain as to the exact
number, but he thought there was theatre
! for every 5000 inhabitants.
| Only two Americ IN companies have with
| in the past five years attempted to win favor
| from German audiences. These We're Edwin
| Booth and Days Company. Inasmuch as
| travelling stars are almost unknown things
/ III Germany, il was rather difficult for
| Booth, at first, to get along. He triumphed
finally, however, by engaging German
stock company 10 support him. German
audiences went into raptures over Ameri-
can genius, and wherever he went crowded
! houses met him.
| Days Company played during the sum-
! mer season at the Wallner Theatre, in Ber-
| lin. His venture was not a success, the
main cause of the failure being that his
company was performing an English trans
lation of German play which had been
muchc hanged in translatiug, and, while the
adaptation presented some points that
were familiar to the German audiences, it
puzzled them to understand the virtue of
| the changes
One of the greatest successes of English
speaking actors in Germany was that of the
members of Mikado company. who went
/ from there to London. The performances
were all given in Berlin and Vienna, and
were supported by the Crown Prince of
Germany. The social position of the actor
| or actress in Germany is much different
! from that of the same in TINS country. A
/ German star, whose ability commands at
! tention, is invited into society for the
| amusement which he gives TO his noble en-